Critical Discourse Analysis of Narratives by Armed Non-State Actors in the ‘US War on Terrorism’: A Comparison of Afghanistan and Pakistan

Abstract

The US war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been dominated by the narratives, orchestrated by all sides to challenge opposing discourses. This study attempts to explore the role of narratives in discourse formation in the US WoT in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the process, the phenomena of terrorism itself has also been examined through critical study of its genealogy, literature foundation, academic gaps and other fault lines. Methodology adopted has been centered around critical discourse analysis as envisaged by Michel Foucault with critical part focusing on the use of knowledge, power and struggle. The US-led west embarked upon their regime of truth through the war on terrorism discourse. The construction and engineering of this discourse involved deliberate efforts, leading to its increased acceptance within the circles closely aligned with US influence, ultimately establishing it as the dominant narrative. Dominance of this discourse was further extended to larger world and societies influenced by the US. When imposed upon the Taliban in Afghanistan, this discourse was resisted using better knowledge and understanding of Afghan environment and strengths of the society. Truth of the artificially manufactured US discourse could not withstand the truth of Afghan Taliban manufactured through its societal strength entrenched in culture, ideology, history and identity. The clash of these discourses has affected the physical domain of the WoT, making the world witness an unimagined defeat and withdraw of the US-led coalition. Similarly, Pakistani Taliban also devised narratives to challenge the writ of the state blaming it for fighting war for others (US), damaging Muslim neighbourhood in Afghanistan and destroying tribal culture. In response, the Pakistani state vehemently discredited the Taliban, labeling them as recipients of foreign funding, perpetrators of cruelty, obstructers of peace and development, inflexible individuals with minimal religious, moral, or intellectual authority.